21. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Gabo Godoy

T he Emirates is a whole different world. It's my first time in the Middle East, and I can't wait to come back and bring Bella with me. I landed in Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Kahlid had his team waiting for me. We immediately got into an SUV and drove about forty minutes outside the city.

The landscape is so serene and beautiful, nothing I've ever seen. Dunes form an intricate pattern, and since the wind changes its pattern, it'd be tricky to create a seamless structure that can easily blend in with the landscape. So instead of focusing on the terrain, I'll focus on the different colors the sand takes depending on the time of day and how the sun hits. I take out my professional camera and start taking pictures from different angles.

The sheikh's team has a tent with refreshments and snacks, so I make a plate and take a little break before going back out. I just spotted an entourage of camels—I can't wait to be able to ride one and get to the top of the dunes.

After sipping a delicious tea, I ask what the name is. One of the butlers informs me that it's called Sulaimani and is made of mint, lemon, and cardamom. Taking a picture of my view, I shoot a quick text to Bella.

Gabo : Wishing you were here enjoying this view with me.

Bella : Ugh, don't do this to me *crying emoji* I should have gone with you. It looks incredible.

Gabo : Don't worry, principessa. We'll come back together.

Bella : You're too good to me, G. Miss you. *kiss emoji*

Gabo : Miss you, too. See you tonight.

I pocket my phone, and after finishing my Sulaimani, I go where the camels rest. The person in charge helps me up on one of the camels and gives me a quick rundown on how to handle the camel properly and not fall like a fool.

It reminds me of that time I was back at my parents' villa in Chile, and I decided to be a tour guide for the day. It was the summer before I moved to Bologna for school, and I thought I was the next big thing. My idea was to tour the actual vines, not the ones we have close to the gift shop, and everyone would use a horse. I could tell Fernando, the villa manager, wasn't too pleased with the idea, but he bit his tongue and let me do as I wanted. Next thing I knew, everyone was out of control, going as far as the eye could see. I was running around like a fool, trying to wrangle as many tourists as I could. Needless to say, I was the laughing joke for days at the villa.

When I get the hang of it, we start crossing the dunes. I stop from time to time to take pictures, check the strength of the wind, and enjoy the spectacular view.

Even though I'm a billionaire, and my life has been everything but normal, I can't help but take a moment to be thankful for everything I have. I'm grateful for all the professional achievements I've obtained while still being young, for all the lives I've been able to touch—helping my employees make their dreams come true, and providing them with more than fair salaries and a healthy work environment. I'm proud of helping the town of Monterosso maintain its charm and lifestyle, ensuring investors don't take their houses and land for a couple of Euros, and making my parents proud by being a good son. And best of all, finding love with the most amazing woman I've ever met. Bella is what my life was missing; she has given me a renewed purpose, a new reason to work harder. Life is no longer about me; it's about us .

I would love to visit a local jewelry store once we're back in Abu Dhabi. When I ask the team, they nod, affirming my request. I've heard the jewelry here is exquisite, and I need to find something for Bella.

After we return from the dunes, the team takes me to an enormous mall with countless jewelry stores, but the security lead shows me one in particular. The moment I enter, I'm blinded by the amount of gold and precious stones.

"Welcome, Mister…" the woman behind the counter says, and I reply, "Godoy."

She smiles at me and says, "Welcome, Mister Godoy. Is there anything in particular you are looking for?"

I smile at her as I start looking around for blue stones. "I want something for my girlfriend. She has the most beautiful azure eyes, and I want something that matches."

The woman nods as she motions for me to follow her. "Right this way, sir."

We get to a display of sapphires: rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, hairpins. Everything is beautiful, but I need to find something that screams Bella the moment I see it. I start looking more closely at each piece until I spot a set that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Can I see this one?" I point to it, and the woman immediately places it in a velvet tray for me. The moment I grab it in my hands, I know this is what I want to gift Bella. It's unique, exquisite, one of a kind. Just like her. "I'll take it. Please wrap it up."

"Right away, sir. How would you like to pay?" I take out my black card, and her smile widens.

I can't wait to get back to Bologna and see Bella wearing this. It's perfect.

Last night, by the time I arrived, Bella was already in bed. I decided to pull an all-nighter and finish the initial draft of my design. I had the basic idea already on my design app, and after seeing the location in person, I made a few changes to the design and the materials I want to use. As Bella had once described my style, I decided on a very intricate yet modern flare for the sheikh's palace.

Finally, around five in the morning, after showering, I get into bed with Bella. Her soft breathing immediately changes when I pull her closer to me.

"What time is it?" she murmurs, still asleep.

"Not time to wake up, yet. Keep sleeping, principessa," I whisper in her ear. She wiggles her ass against my dick, and it jerks like it's finally home.

In the morning, Bella surprises me by waking at the same time I always do. After we shower together, I prepare acai bowls for breakfast.

"I'm done with the first draft for the palace. I'm turning it in today," I tell her as I pour two glasses of orange juice.

"Can I see it? Or is it top secret?" she asks with a smirk.

"Here, tell me your professional opinion."

I fire up the tablet for her and show her the blueprint. Bella grabs the tablet and starts going through the design. She pauses at certain spots, making me curious about what she's focusing on, but then she continues scanning. I love how much attention she's paying to every detail.

After almost half an hour, she passes the tablet back.

"I love it, but it doesn't scream sheikh to me. Maybe you need to add a few more touches," she says this timidly, almost afraid of my reaction. I was expecting her to praise my design, but I can't deny I'm intrigued to learn her feedback.

"What would you add?" I ask her honestly, and she seems surprised by my response.

"Do you really want my opinion? I'm not an architect."

"No, but you're an artist. Maybe you could help me improve my design." She smiles brightly as she goes to her bag and grabs a pencil and her sketchbook.

"I'd make all the windows look like mirrors so that the palace would be a mirage in the middle of the desert. The heat that the windows collect, because you know they're going to get hot, could be used to power at least part of the palace. It would be amazing if it could be a self-sufficient building. I would also add some other colors besides those mimicking the sand. Maybe the light that passes through the windows could be heat-activated, so the hotter it is outside, the darker it becomes inside, saving on cooling costs.

"Also, you could create an indoor Eden Garden. Imagine being able to visit a tropical forest in the middle of the desert or take a book and sit by the luscious plants while having tea. Finally, I don't think there's anything cooler than an indoor pool with a slow river connecting it to the outdoors. Fit for a sheikh." She finishes with a flourish, and I give her a standing ovation.

"Are you sure you don't want to join my team permanently? These are great ideas, Bella," I tell her as I place a kiss on her hair.

"Thanks, G. But no, I'd rather continue my work. I'd love to be your personal consultant, though. You can pay me with orgasms." A grunt escapes me as she lunges to run away, giggling all the way to our room. I'd chase her to the ends of the universe if necessary.

After arriving at the office way too late, I get an inquisitive look from Dom.

"What?" I ask him as I fire up my computer in my office and see him closing the door behind him.

"I've known you since college, Fra . And this is the first time you didn't get to work on time. What the fuck is going on?"

"Good thing it's my name on the building. Did someone die?" I ask him without looking at him; I'm not sure what he's trying to get at.

"Holy fuck, you've really got it bad for Luca's little sister, huh?" Dom says with a cackle.

"Bella. Her name is Isabella. And yes, I'm in love with her. But this has nothing to do with her. I didn't realize I had to ask you permission to work from home after flying in and out of Abu Dhabi in a twenty-four-hour period."

"Woah, sorry, man. I didn't mean anything bad by it. I just didn't realize you were serious about her. You've never been serious about a woman before."

"None of them were her ." I give him a pointed look, hoping he'll drop this topic. I don't feel like explaining myself when I haven't told her I love her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend to." Dom raises his hands in surrender and makes his way to the door, but before he leaves my office, I say out loud, "Go scratch that itch you've had for years with Mario. Maybe then you can stop minding other people's business."

"Fuck you." He gives me the finger as he leaves my office, and I laugh out loud.

I get back to approving designs and checking emails. One from the design team in particular catches my attention.

Dear Mr. Godoy,

I simply wanted to say we are impressed by the quality and the turnaround time in which Ms. Bianchi has been working on the project she was assigned.

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect from her since I wasn't involved in her hiring, but she has been critical in having the designs ready for your approval. Not only does she provide quality work but also valuable feedback.

If for some reason she would like a permanent position on the team, we would be happy to have her.

Regards,

Angelo Cabrissi

Design Team Leader

Godoy Construzione

My chest fills with pride to see others recognize what I've seen in Bella all along: a hardworking, driven, and bright woman. I can't wait to tell her. I'm about to reply to Angelo when my office phone lights up.

"Excuse me, Mr. Godoy. The sheikh is on line two and would like to speak with you," my assistant informs me.

I raise my eyebrows, wondering what the sheikh would like to speak about; I thought my trip went smoothly yesterday.

"Mr. Godoy, I just wanted to personally thank you for coming to my country yesterday and sending the first draft of my palace today," Sheikh Khalid says, and I'm deeply honored he called me instead of having his team contact me.

"It's my pleasure, Sheikh Kahlid. Do you approve of the design?"

"I'm pleasantly surprised with the additions you recommended after our initial conversation. Admittedly, they're my favorite part of the palace now. I'm looking forward to seeing them once completed." He's praising Bella's ideas. I can't wait to tell her.

"Thank you very much. I must admit, those ideas are my significant other's. I cannot claim them as my own."

"Oh, you have a bright woman by your side. I didn't expect less from you. Please extend my praise to her. Talk soon." The sheikh hangs up, and I decide to send a text to Bella.

Gabo : We're going out for dinner tonight. Wear white, Bella mia.

Bella : Oh, fun, where are we going? Should I wear something fancy?

Gabo : Yes, the fanciest dress you have.

Bella : Okay. *happy emoji*

I type and delete those three words I want to tell her over and over again, but I have to wait to tell her in person. I need to see how her azure eyes sparkle when I tell her I love her.

I get to the penthouse before Bella returns from uni, which is a good thing because if she were here, we wouldn't be going out. I take a quick shower and put on one of my Brioni tuxedos.

As I'm putting on the cufflinks, she enters our room. She hasn't seen me in my closet yet, but I have a perfect view of her. Her hair and makeup are done, and I love that she went the extra mile to get all fancy tonight. She's always gorgeous, but tonight, I wanted to roll out the red carpet for her.

"Hey there, principessa," I tell her as I leave my closet. She yelps as she practically jumps out of her skin, and I feel like shit because I didn't mean to scare her.

"Gabo, pelotudo . You scared me." She swats my chest as I try to hug her.

"Please forgive me. I didn't think I was going to scare you," I tell her, and she huffs a breath before lifting her face for a kiss.

"Give me five minutes to put on my dress and shoes, and we can head out," she says after one more kiss, and I lustfully watch her walk back to her closet. I don't know when we became so comfortable with each other, but all this feels so normal. Sharing a bed, having her own space in my penthouse, and having her studio in my villa—all of it feels right.

I feel my hands getting clammy and my heart racing. I'm only planning to tell her I love her, so I can't imagine what a mess I'll be when I ask her to marry me.

"Ready." Bella comes out of her closet, and my brain short-circuits. She's wearing a floor-length beaded dress that hugs her perfect hourglass figure, with a deep V neckline in the front and a bare back. Her hair is up in a chignon. She's a fucking angel who has come to Earth to bless my life for eternity. What did I do to deserve her? Only God knows, but I'll be thankful for the rest of my life.

"You like?" she asks, a blush creeping up her neck.

"Like? You look stunning, principessa." I go closer to her, and once I have her hand in mine, I help her spin to see her better. She's glowing.

"Here, I brought you something from Abu Dhabi." We walk to a table near the sofa I have in my room. I pick up a velvet box, and when I open it, Bella gasps, and her hands cover her mouth.

"You got that for me?" she asks, incredulous.

"Of course. Let me help you." I take out the necklace, and Bella gives her back to me, so I can clasp the necklace at the back of her neck.

"There's only one of these in the world. Fifty sapphires and one hundred and fifty diamonds arranged in a raindrop pattern." I place a kiss on the back of her neck once I'm done, and goosebumps appear on her skin. She's wearing a different perfume tonight. It's flowery and citrusy. I like it.

"Gabo, this is too much. I don't have anything to give you," she says as she touches the necklace, admiring it on her neck.

"You don't need to give me anything, I simply love spoiling you," I tell her as she turns around and crosses her arms behind my neck.

"Thank you, G. You make me infinitely happy."

I see her eyes sparkling, and I take her lips with mine. I cradle her face with my hands and deepen the kiss. It's tender and slow but intense and binding at the same time. I reluctantly let her lips go, and after one more peck, I place my hand on the small of her back, showing her the way to the garage.

"Which car are we taking tonight? Or is Mario driving us?" she asks as the elevator doors open.

"We're taking the Rolls Royce," I inform her as I get the key from the panel where I keep all of the car keys.

"Oohhh, we're really fancy tonight. Are you sure there's no way you'll tell me where we're going?" she asks as I help her get into the car. Her dress is a little tight, and as good as she looks, I can't imagine it's easy to sit.

"No, principessa. You'll have to be patient until we get there," I say as I start the car and make my way out of the garage.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Mr. Godoy. I have my ways," Bella says while wiggling a bit in her seat.

I have both hands on the steering wheel, looking straight at the road. It's the kind of focus I clearly need to stop worrying about how she will react when I tell her I love her. I'm a successful billionaire who has made businesses with powerful men around the world, but telling my girlfriend how I feel about her has me on edge. The power this woman has over me is something I've never experienced before, and maybe that's what has me nervous. I'm playing over and over in my head how I'm going to tell Bella I love her when I feel her hand on my pants.

"What are you doing?" I ask, intrigued.

"I told you I wasn't so sure about being patient." The next thing I know, Bella is leaning down, her head getting closer to my lap, and ever so slowly, she unzips my trousers.

"Holy fuck," I say, stunned.

"I told you. I have my ways to get what I want."

Bella takes my cock out and starts moving her hand up and down my length as she puts it in her mouth. It doesn't take me long to get rock-hard. I start breathing through my teeth and grabbing the steering wheel for dear life.

"You taste so good, G. I can't wait to swallow every last drop of your cum," Bella says, and I press the gas pedal. She chuckles, and it only makes me want to get deeper in her mouth, so I thrust hard, and she chokes.

"Bella, you don't have to do this," I tell her, worried she's not enjoying it anymore, but she surprises me.

"I'm not a quitter, and I want you all the way inside my throat. So thrust away, G. I'm a big girl, I can take it." Her words awake a madman inside me. I keep driving as fast as I can as I start thrusting my cock into the back of her throat. She starts moaning, and the vibration of her vocal cords is the extra push I need to jump off the proverbial cliff and empty myself in her.

"Fuck, Bella. That was the best orgasm of my life," I say, completely satiated.

"Good, because now you're going to tell me where you are taking me," she says as she fixes her lipstick and rearranges herself in her seat.

"I'll do you one better. I'll show you. We're here," I say as I park in front of the National Art Gallery.

"What's this?" Bella asks as she looks outside the window.

"We get to have dinner in the museum. Just the two of us and hundreds of historical pieces."

Bella does her little happy dance, and I chuckle at her excitement. After helping her out of the car, we make our way up the stairs to the building, and I can't help but look back. The fountain behind us, the soft glow of the street lamps, Bella next to me, shining like the star she is, and I'm smiling like the luckiest bastard in the universe—it's a spectacular view. The best part? Mario snapped a picture of this moment. I can't wait to ask him for it so I can use it as a screensaver.

When we get inside, a table for two is waiting for us in one of the rooms dedicated to the paintings of the fifteenth century, Bella's favorites. I remember she talked about this particular room all night long after she visited with her summer class.

"G, this is incredible. I can't believe we'll be having dinner here," she says as I help her take a seat. The dinner is amazing—all the dishes come from a pop-up restaurant run by a Michelin-starred Danish chef currently in town. Everything is farm-to-table, earthy, and organic.

"So, G. You know I love being with you, whether eating a sandwich at a tourist cafe or having an eight-course meal prepped by a Michelin chef, but is there a special reason why we're having dinner here tonight?"

Holding her hand, I release a deep breath. "Since the moment you arrived in Bologna, my life has turned for the better. I know you have trust issues, but I'm here to tell you that I love you, Bella, and whatever path life takes us, I'll always be by your side."

Her azure eyes are filled with emotion like the deep blue seafaring a storm.

"G," she begins, but her voice breaks. I squeeze her hand twice, letting her know it's okay. She rewards me with a crooked smile.

"I'm not ready to say the words yet, but you know what you mean to me, right?"

And I know—I feel it, too. The way she cares about me, the way she gives herself to me fully and unconditionally. It might take her some time to realize it's okay to verbalize what her heart feels, but I know she'll get there. We'll get there.

I take my phone out of my pocket. After opening my music app, "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims starts playing. I place the phone on the table and extend my hand to Bella.

"Would you allow me the honor of this dance, principessa?" She chuckles but takes my hand. I direct her to a slow dance, my hard body flushed to her soft one. With her hands crossed against the back of my neck, her head resting on my chest, my hands on her ass—I'm a shameless motherfucker, but without a doubt, this is the best night of my life. I can't wait for what the future holds for us.